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Handout 1: Common Worship Components for Children

Adapted from "Components of Worship" by Rev. Barbara Pescan, in the UUA's Spirituality Development Conference manual (Boston: UUA, 2005). After serving churches in Oak Park, IL, West Redding, CT, and Evanston, IL, Barbara Pescan has retired and is living

Gathering — Asks us to come together as a religious community. Common rituals: Playing music (called a "prelude"), or ringing a bell or chime.

Opening — Signals the beginning of our sacred time together in worship. Most common ritual: Lighting a chalice and sharing inspiring words.

Acknowledging — We greet or acknowledge each other. This helps us recognize that we are a community. The leader may welcome everyone, encourage participants to greet one another, or lead a ritual where people greet participants in a special way, or singing a hymn together.

Giving — Everyone is invited to participate in the community. Rituals of giving include contributing joys and concerns and collecting an offertory of money. Community announcements of events in which we are invited to participate are also a way of giving.